Boosting Light-Driven CO2 Conversion into CO by a Polypyridine Iron(II) Catalyst Using an Organic Sensitizer.

Direct photochemical conversion of CO2 into a single carbon-based product currently represents one of the major issues in the catalysis of the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). In this work, we demonstrate that the combination of an organic photosensitizer with a heptacoordinated iron(II) complex allows to attain a noble-metal-free photochemical system capable of efficient and selective conversion of CO2 into CO upon light irradiation in the presence of N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) as the electron and proton donor, respectively, with unprecedented performances (ΦCO up to 36%, TONCO > 1000, selectivity > 99%). As shown by transient absorption spectroscopy studies, this can be achieved thanks to the fast rates associated with the electron transfer from the photogenerated reduced dye to the catalyst, which protect the dye from parallel degradation pathways ensuring its stability along the photochemical reaction.

A stereochemical model and origins of selectivity for the rhodium-catalyzed hydroselenation of styrene.

A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying transition metal-catalyzed transformation is crucial for developing innovative strategies to synthesize chiral organoselenium compounds. In this study, we developed and investigated a three-layer chirality relay model for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroselenation of alkenes through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In the back layer of this model, the four bulky substituents on the phosphorus atom of the bidentate chiral MeO-BIPHEP ligand were positioned on axial and equatorial bonds, thereby influencing the configuration of the middle layer.

Mung bean-derived carbon dots suppress ferroptosis of Schwann cells the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 pathway to promote peripheral nerve repair.

Schwann cells (SCs) can potentially transform into the repair-related cell phenotype after injury, which can promote nerve repair. Ferroptosis occurs in the SCs of injured tissues, causing damage to the SCs and exacerbating nerve injury. Targeting ferroptosis in SCs is a promising therapeutic strategy for effective repair; however, research on ferroptosis in the peripheral nervous system remains limited.

Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling.

This review highlights significant advances in iron-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC), a method pivotal for forming carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds directly from C-H bonds. This technique uses iron-a naturally abundant, inexpensive, and environmentally benign transition metal-as a catalyst to facilitate the coupling of two unfunctionalized C-H bonds. This method stands out for avoiding pre-functionalized substrates, reducing both waste and cost in organic synthesis.

Enhancing CO reduction with formamide-Ni@TiO catalyst.

Formamide condensation with Ni can generate the NC structure, widely recognized as an efficient catalyst for electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR). To improve the utilization efficiency of Ni atoms, we introduced metal oxides as substrates to modulate the growth of a formamide-Ni (FA-Ni) condensate. FA-Ni@TiO demonstrated 2.

In situ arsenic immobilization by natural iron (oxyhydr)oxide precipitates in As-contaminated groundwater irrigation canals.

Arsenic-contaminated groundwater is widely used in agriculture. To meet the increasing demand for safe water in agriculture, an efficient and cost-effective method for As removal from groundwater is urgently needed. We hypothesized that Fe (oxyhydr)oxide (FeOOH) minerals precipitated in situ from indigenous Fe in groundwater may immobilize As, providing a solution for safely using As-contaminated groundwater in irrigation.

Ultrathin Palladium-loaded Cuprous oxide stabilises Copper(I) to facilitate electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction.

Cuprous oxide (CuO) exhibit significant potential for catalytic activity in the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR). However, the rapid reduction of Copper(I) (Cu) to metallic Copper (Cu) leads to catalyst deactivation, significantly impacting product selectivity and stability. This study aims to stabilize the Cu valence state at a metal-CuO heterogeneous interface through interfacial engineering, ultimately enhancing the electrochemical CO reduction performance of CuO.

Design of natural asphalt sulfamic acid (NA-NHSOH) as a scalable natural asphalt-derived heterogeneous Brønsted acid to catalyze multicomponent reactions meeting green chemistry goals.

This study highlights an innovative approach to catalysis by utilizing natural asphalt as a support material for developing carbon-based catalysts. By leveraging the principles of green chemistry, the research aims to create recyclable and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalytic systems. This aligns with the growing demand for greener technologies and the use of biocompatible materials in chemical processes.

Urea enhances the yield and quality of bio-oil produced from corncob through pyrolysis.

As global demand for fossil fuels rises amidst depleting reserves and environmental concerns, exploring sustainable and renewable energy sources has become imperative. This study investigated the pyrolysis of corncob, a widely available agricultural waste, using urea as a catalyst to enhance bio-oil production. The aim was to determine the optimum urea concentration and pyrolysis temperature for bio-oil yield from corncob.

Environmental Catalysis for NO Reduction by Manipulating the Dynamic Coordination Environment of Active Sites.

Nowadays, it is challenging to achieve SO-tolerant environmental catalysis for NO reduction because of the thermodynamically favorable transformation of reactive sites to inactive sulfate species in the presence of SO. Herein, we achieve enhanced low-temperature SO-tolerant NO reduction by manipulating the dynamic coordination environment of active sites. Engineered by coordination chemistry, SiO-CeO composite oxides with a short-range ordered Ce-O-Si structure were elaborately constructed on a TiO support.

Asymmetric Photoredox Catalytic Minisci-Type Reactions of α-Bromide Amides.

An asymmetric photoredox catalytic Minisci-type reaction between α-bromide amides and imine-containing azaarenes has been successfully developed. This catalyst system employs a chiral phosphoric acid alongside 3DPAFIPN as a photosensitizer. The reaction produces a diverse array of valuable amides, featuring azaarene-substituted tertiary carbon stereocenters at the β-position, in high yields (up to 85%) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% enantiomeric excess (ee)).

Catalytic Asymmetric Dehydrogenative Si-H/X-H Coupling toward Si-Stereogenic Silanes.

ConspectusChiral organosilicon compounds bearing a Si-stereogenic center have attracted increasing attention in various scientific communities and appear to be a topic of high current relevance in modern organic chemistry, given their versatile utility as chiral building blocks, chiral reagents, chiral auxiliaries, and chiral catalysts. Historically, access to these non-natural Si-stereogenic silanes mainly relies on resolution, whereas their asymmetric synthetic methods dramatically lagged compared to their carbon counterparts. Over the past two decades, transition-metal-catalyzed desymmetrization of prochiral organosilanes has emerged as an effective tool for the synthesis of enantioenriched Si-stereogenic silanes.

Hinged Carboxylate in the Artificial Distal Pocket of an Iron Porphyrin Enhances CO Electroreduction at Low Overpotential.

To efficiently capture, activate, and transform small molecules, metalloenzymes have evolved to integrate a well-organized pocket around the active metal center. Within this cavity, second coordination sphere functionalities are precisely positioned to optimize the rate, selectivity, and energy cost of catalytic reactions. Inspired by this strategy, an artificial distal pocket defined by a preorganized 3D strap is introduced on an iron-porphyrin catalyst (sc-Fe) for the CO-to-CO electrocatalytic reduction.

Semi-Confinement Effect Enhances CH and CH Production in CO Electrocatalytic Reduction.

Achieving fast conversion and precise regulation of product selectivity in electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) remains a challenge. The space confinement effect provides a theoretical basis for the design of catalysts of different morphology and sizes and reveals the physical phenomena caused by the confinement of electrons and other particles at the nanoscale. In this work, a semi-confinement concept is introduced and a mesoporous silica nanosphere supported Cu catalyst (Cu-MSN) is prepared as a typical example to realize CORR enhancement and product selectivity regulation (methane vs ethylene).

Optimizing LiNO Conversion through a Defective Carbon Matrix as Catalytic Current Collectors for Highly Durable and Fast-Charging Li Metal Batteries.

Lithium nitrate (LiNO) stands as an effective electrolyte additive, mitigating the degradation of Li metal anodes by forming a LiN-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). However, its conversion kinetics are impeded by energy-consuming eight-electron transfer reactions. Herein, an isoreticular metal-organic framework-8-derived carbon is incorporated into the carbon cloth (RMCC) as a catalytic current collector to regulate the LiNO conversion kinetics and boost LiN generation inside the SEI.

Plasmonic Cu-supported amorphous RuP for efficient photothermal CO hydrogenation to CO.

The hydrogenation of carbon dioxide into profitable chemicals is a viable path toward achieving the objective of carbon neutrality. However, the typical approach for hydrogenation of CO heavily relies on thermally driven catalysis at high temperatures, which is not aligned with the goals of carbon neutrality. Thus, there is a critical need to explore new catalytic methods for the high-efficiency conversion of CO.

Zirconium(IV)-Catalysed Hydrosilylation of Organic Carbonates and Polycarbonates Household Wastes into Alcohol Derivatives.

The Schwartz's reagent Cp2Zr(H)Cl is a well known stoichiometric reagent for the reduction of unsaturated organic molecules but it has rarely been used in catalytic transformations. Herein, we describe the reduction of a variety of organic carbonates using the catalyst Cp2Zr(H)Cl in combination with Me(MeO)2SiH (DMMS) as reductant. This method was further applied to the reductive depolymerization of some polycarbonate materials and yielded silylated alcohols and diols in mild conditions.

Effects of Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts on the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides under Atmospheric CO Pressure.

One use of CO as a starting material in organic transformations is in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates and polycarbonates. Due to the low reactivity of CO, this transformation must be carried out in the presence of an efficient catalyst. Although several catalytic systems have been developed in the past decade, reducing the CO pressure at which the reaction is carried out remains one of the main challenges of the process.

Unraveling Various Stacking Modes and Local Structures in Poly(triazine imide) Materials via Low-Dose Electron Microscopy.

Poly(triazine imide) (PTI) materials, a class of layered graphitic carbon nitrides, have garnered significant attention for their unique electronic, thermal, and catalytic properties. These properties can be adjusted through postsynthesis treatments. However, the influence of these treatments on the layer stacking modes and local structures within PTI remains largely unexplored.

Selective production of olefins from methanol over a heteroatomic SAPO-34 zeolite.

The methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process has the potential to bridge future gaps in the supply of sustainable lower olefins. Promoting the selectivity of propylene and ethylene and revealing the catalytic role of active sites are challenging goals in MTO reactions. Here, we report a novel heteroatomic silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) zeolite, SAPO-34-Ta, which incorporates active tantalum(V) sites within the framework to afford an optimal distribution of acidity.

Advanced environmental remediation using enhanced performance of hollow ZnO@SnInS core-shell nanorod arrays for hazardous ion and organic pollutant removal.

Herein, novel hollow ZnO and ZnO@SnInS core-shell nanorods (NRs) with controlled shell thickness were developed via a facile synthesis approach for the efficient photocatalytic remediation of organic as well inorganic water pollutants. The introduction of SnInS shell layer coating over ZnO enhances visible light absorption, efficient exciton-mediated direct charge transfer, and reduces the band gap of ZnO@SnInS core-shell nanorods. The ZnO@SnInS core-shell nanorods show efficient solar-light driven catalytic efficiency for the disintegration of industrial dye (orange G), degradation of tetracycline, and reduction of hazardous Cr (VI) ions in aquatic systems.

Structural Transformation and Degradation of Cu Oxide Nanocatalysts during Electrochemical CO Reduction.

The electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) holds enormous potential as a carbon-neutral route to the sustainable production of fuels and platform chemicals. The durability for long-term operation is currently inadequate for commercialization, however, and the underlying deactivation process remains elusive. A fundamental understanding of the degradation mechanism of electrocatalysts, which can dictate the overall device performance, is needed.

Advances in Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts via Direct Oxygen-Oxygen Radical Coupling Pathway.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a cornerstone of various electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, including water splitting, CO/N reduction, reversible fuel cells, and rechargeable metal-air batteries. OER typically proceeds through three primary mechanisms: adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM), and oxide path mechanism (OPM). Unlike AEM and LOM, the OPM proceeds via direct oxygen-oxygen radical coupling that can bypass linear scaling relationships of reaction intermediates in AEM and avoid catalyst structural collapse in LOM, thereby enabling enhanced catalytic activity and stability.

Rational Design of Porous Organic Framework (POF) for Efficient Conversion of CO to Cyclic Carbonates and 2-Oxazolidinones at Atmospheric Pressure Conditions.

Carbon dioxide (CO) capture and its subsequent catalytic fixation into usable compounds represent a potential approach for addressing the energy problem and the implications of global warming. Hence, it is necessary to develop effective catalytic systems required for the transformation of CO into valuable chemicals/fuels. Herein, we rationally designed a hydroxyl-functionalized porous organic framework (OH-POF) consisting of both acidic (OH) as well as basic N sites for the transformation of CO using epoxides for the production of cyclic carbonates (CCs), a useful commodity chemical under environmental-friendly, metal/solvent/co-catalyst-free conditions.

Zinc Chloride-Doped g-CN Microtubes for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride.

Morphology regulation and element doping are effective means to improving the photocatalytic performance of graphite-phase carbon nitride (g-CN). In this article, using melamine and zinc chloride as raw materials, a novel kind of Zn/Cl-doped hollow microtubular g-CN (Zn-HT-CN) by a hydrothermal method was developed. The structure and morphology of Zn-HT-CN and reference samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc.